at a time when there was little joy in a war torn country, Loris Malaguzzi spoke these words, "nothing without joy," as a verbal acknowledgment of the reasons why we educate young children. These words bring meaning and focus to my life and above all they are a description of my heart which beats to love people, to teach young children, and to grow in spirit, truth, and love daily...

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

More from Austria...

The three amigos... heading home to Praha!The mountains tower over the center of the town- Ischgl. It is intense!This is the view of the slopes and lifts as we were skiing from the Swiss Alps back to the Austrian Alps. Truly beautiful...A picture for my dad- ski fuel- brat and pommes with sweet mustard- so good!And here I am... in Switzerland- just a chairlift away from Austria!

This whole ski adventure was an incredible getaway from Prague. A few weeks ago, while we were skiing in Spindle in the Czech mountains, a friend asked me, "What do you think about when you are skiing down the mountain?" Good question. Often I think about many trivial things- people's ski outfits/gear, how they good/bad people around me are skiing, how I am skiing, and other silly things. Other times I am talking myself in or out of taking a jump or giving my burning muscles a pep talk to get down the mountain safe and sound! This weekend, I was thinking a lot about how lucky I am to afford the pleasure of a ski weekend in Austria. Looking around, as you can see from the photos above, the scenery was stunning! The skies were mostly clear and bright blue, the wind was minimal, the sun was shining, the slopes were excellent. I was amazed to be skiing in the Alps- something I have only dreamed of doing! This ski weekend was awesome and being in the Alps- the mighty, giant, snow covered Alps reminded me why I love the Lord. He created these towering mountains, with His hands he put them into place and he can move them if need be. The beauty of his creation is always a reminder of how much he loves us... Tonight as I am back in Praha, and as I reflect on my "mountain-top" experience and I am thankful for the love of Christ, and the opportunity to travel to amazing and beautiful places that he created... and this song, which has played in my head throughout my ski days also plays in my heart... "You are reminding me who I really am- I've been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but he lives in me and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God... oh who loved me, and who loves me and who gave himself for me... You have resurrected my heart from the grave... and I'm alive." - I'm alive by Shane and Shane, from the album Everything Is Different - Nikki